Illustration by James Arnold.
Once upon a time, lots of people believed a fallacy about secondary-level vocational-technical schools. Many assumed that vo-tech schools were for students not quite cracked up for rigorous academics or college.
In blunt terms, vo-tech was for dummies.
Unfortunately, the falsehood lives on today in some instances, despite plenty of evidence to the contrary.
“I hear that at least five times a month. It’s a stereotype, but it’s not a true one,” stated Justin Bruhn, administrative director of Cumberland Perry Area Vocational Technical School in Mechanicsburg. “The trick is getting people to take a look at what we do, then they’ll be impressed. There’s a place for every student here.”
Peggy Grimm, administrative director of Dauphin County Technical School in Lower Paxton Township, echoed that thought, saying she still fights a battle of perception over reality.
“It just isn’t so anymore,” she said. “The state Department of Education raised the bar, saying our students had to be career- and college-ready.”
Pennsylvania currently has 87 public vocational schools operating within its 500 school districts. Besides Dauphin County and Cumberland-Perry Area, other area vo-techs include Lebanon County Career and Technology Center; York School of Technology; Franklin County Career and Technology Center in Chambersburg; and Lancaster County Career and Technology Center with campuses in Brownstown, Mount Joy and Willow Street.
In 1995, the Adams County Tech Prep Consortium was formed, comprising students from five school districts within Adams County. Classes are held at a facility on the Gettysburg Area High School campus. The Carlisle Area School District operates the Center for Careers and Technology on the Carlisle High School campus.
All of the area vo-techs are members of TechLink, a not-for-profit organization with a united goal of advancing career and technical education through education, advocacy, public awareness and building connections between post-secondary institutions.
Met Expectations
The Harrisburg School District previously offered vo-tech classes at its John Harris campus, but that program has since closed. The district now sends its students to Dauphin County Technical School. The upcoming school year will be Harrisburg’s fifth at Dauphin County Tech, with 260 students expected.
The school’s total enrollment is “rolling around 1,000” students in grades 9 to 12, Grimm said, with students also coming from the Central Dauphin, Derry Township, Halifax Area, Lower Dauphin, Middletown Area and Susquehanna Township districts.
“We were diligent about holding the bar [for Harrisburg students], and they’ve met our expectations,” Grimm said. “We’re also looking for what we can provide for them academically. Many are kids from a low social-economic factor, and we plan for that.”
Dauphin County Tech is one of only 15 comprehensive vo-tech schools in the state. In other words, it is an independent vo-tech that offers both academic classes and career programs on the same campus. Students attend the school on a full-day basis, with no need to return to their home high schools for academic courses because they are offered at the tech school.
“Our students are very invested in our school because this is their school,” Grimm noted.
Renewed Appreciation
Dauphin County Tech and other comprehensive vo-techs are subject to more stringent state regulations than vo-techs that don’t offer academic courses.
Each year, Dauphin County Tech must administer academic Keystone exams to its students in addition to the seniors’ NOCTI (National Occupational Competency Testing Institute) exams for vocational studies. The state Department of Education bases Dauphin County Tech’s annual school report card on both scores, along with other factors.
“Parents were amazed to find out that we have [Advanced Placement] and honors courses here,” Grimm said. “We need it to complement our [vocational] programs.”
Dauphin County Tech offers a total of 25 vocational programs, while Cumberland Perry AVTS has 22 programs. Both schools offer many of the same courses, including automotive and diesel programs, computer information systems, electronics technology and health careers.
Cumberland Perry AVTS is comprised of approximately 1,000 students in grades 9 to 12 from 13 school districts within Cumberland, Perry and upper Adams counties.
“Our enrollment is up by about 10 percent over the last four years,” Bruhn noted. “I believe there’s a renewed appreciation for our courses that we offer.”
Around 500 students arrive at the school each morning before departing for academic classes in the afternoon at their home high schools. In the afternoon, the remainder of the vo-tech’s student body arrives for program studies after attending academic classes at their home high schools.
The school also offers social studies so students won’t be bogged down with as many required core courses at their home schools, Bruhn said.
“Our goal is an emphasis on a tangible outcome for our students, not only to leave here with skills and knowledge, but also with certifications and college credits,” he said.
The school’s newest three-year course is Health Career Technicians, which is separate from its nursing program. Health Career Technicians prepares students for careers as pharmacy technicians, pharmacy aides and physical therapy aides directly after graduation. Students also can continue with post-secondary training to become a medical assistant.
Cumberland Perry also offers a dental assistant course, which Dauphin County Tech plans to begin in 2016-17.
“We’re constantly looking for programs where students can make a life-sustaining wage,” Grimm said.
“All of our programs fall under STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math),” said Sandy Traynor, Dauphin County Tech’s assistant director. “Our students earn certifications here and up to 12 college credits. When they leave us, they can go on.”
To learn more about vocational education in central Pennsylvania, visit the schools’ websites or go to the TechLink website at www.techlinkpa.com. TechLink’s next meeting is at Dauphin County Tech on Aug. 19.
